Research assistant/pre-doc to the department of economics (50%)

Reference number PAR 2025/342

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Department of Economics belongs to the School of Business, Economics and Law at University of Gothenburg and has around 100 employees from several countries. The teaching within the department is economics and statistics and the department has around 800 students registered at courses and programs. The research conducted at the department is within a broad range of areas, including labor, health, applied micro, environmental, development, behavioral, and financial economics. More information about the department is
available at www.economics.gu.se.

Job assignments

The appointment is to serve as a research assistant to Professor Mikael Lindahl and Dr Yun Xiao.

The tasks consist of being responsible for data management and/or analysis in various projects, such as organization of data, cleaning of databases, programming and analysis of data. The person will also help with conducting and writing literature reviews.

This is an excellent opportunity for individuals considering obtaining a PhD in economics to develop/expand skills in empirical analysis and/or statistical programming with large data sets, and to gain an overview of the research process from idea conception to analysis and write-up.

 

The research projects the employee will be working on will predominately focus on two areas:

  1. The impact of migration on education, family, and labor market outcomes. One project looks at the effects of migration to Sweden during childhood on marriage and family outcomes. Another project examines the effects of teenage exposure to migration restrictions in China on educational and labor market outcomes. The successful candidate will work with researchers at the University of Gothenburg but also with collaborators based in the Netherlands, China, and the US. The main data used in these projects are census data from National Bureau of Statistics of China and administrative data from Statistical Sweden (SCB).


  2. The impact of family background on educational and labor market inequality. One project will look at how the family and neighborhood environment a child experiences growing up impact later life outcomes, such as income and wealth. The other project involves investigating how historical welfare reforms impact inequality and social mobility. individuals back. You will work with researchers at the University of Gothenburg but also with collaborators based in Denmark and Germany. The main data used in these projects are administrative data from Statistical Sweden (SCB) and historical census and archival data from Sweden.

 

Among the tasks included are:

  • Searching for data and online data sources to complement the main data.
  • Cleaning, processing, and managing of data sets
  • Basic analyses of data
  • Programming for data processing and analysis
  • Conducting and writing literature reviews

 

Qualifications 

Applicants should have a master's level education (or be studying towards one) in an area of relevance such as development studies, data science, economics, statistics etc

We are looking for a candidate who has experience working with data using Stata given the expected priority tasks of the research assistant.  Other statistical languages such as R, python, or GIS, previous experience as a research assistant, and demonstrated excellent in quantitative and data-oriented courses will also particularly valued. The candidate will be fluent in English, which fluency in Swedish also being a benefit given that the SCB and historical data are in Swedish.

Employment 

The position is a fixed term employment for 11 months with an extent of  50% of full time, located at the Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg.

Starting date is July 1st or upon agreement.

Contact information for the post 

Please contact:
Yun Xiao, Assistant Professor, e-mail: yun.xiao@economics.gu.se

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande 

Application 

To apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to create an account in our recruitment system. Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline. 

Please attach the following in the application:

  • Personal letter stating why you fit the role
  • CV
  • Diploma/ degree certificate and grades
  • Other documents, relevant for the application

Applications must be received by: 2025-05-20

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.